Purvi and Kavin were seating in the garden area of their building, in the middle of the night. Purvi was watching Mishti's drawing book.

Kavin (emotional) - mai sochta tha ki mai Mishti ko bahut ache se samajhta hu, lekin shayad mai galat tha…meri bachi itni taklif mai thi aur mai kabhi samajh hi nahi paaya.

Purvi (understanding) - bache bahut sensitive hote hai! choti choti baate bhi unnke dil par bahut gehra asar kar jaati hai….Mishti ko abhi tumhari jarurat hai…tum apna jyada se jyada time usske saath spend karo...she got upset….sab meri vajah se hi hua hai! mai hi jaane anjaane tum dono ke bich aa gai.

Kavin (assuring) - aisi koi baat nahi hai, Purvi! please tum apne aap ko blaim mat karo.

Purvi - hume ek dusre se thoda distance maintain karna hoga, atleast Mishti ke saamne…..mai usski insecurity samajh sakti hu, tumhare siva usska aur koi nahi hai, usska possessive hona bilkul normal hai…bachi hai, thode se time aur extra care ki jarurat hai, sambhal jaayegi.

Kavin (amazed) - tum itni achi kyu ho?

Purvi (smiling) - 2 din baad Christmas hai.…Mr. Bunny! ready ho jaao, apni Mishtu ka santa banne ke liye.

Two Days Later

Kavin returns home early for the decorations. Purvi has suggested him to throw a Christmas party for Mishti and to spend some time with her.

he opened the door with a spare key and was surprised to see the house decorated already. a beautiful Christmas tree was kept near the window of the hall and on the wall a huge "Merry Christmas" board was stick. Purvi was busy in decorating the Christmas tree with some colorful balls.

Kavin (impressed) - tumne to mere aane se pehle hi sab kuch arrange kar liya.

Purvi (smiling) - mujhe pata tha tum humesha ki tarah late ho jaaoge…mene building ke saare bacho ko invite kar liya hai, naashta, cold drinks sab lakar rakha hai…she walks to him and kept a shopping bag on his hand….ye tumhara santa costume hai, jaldi se pehan lo aur taiyar ho jaao…Saanta kaaki (babysitter) aur Mishti shopping karke aate hi honge.

Kavin (smiling) - you know what! You are the best.

Purvi (raising her collar) - I know…ab jaldi se jaao aur change kar lo…she pushed him lightly

Kavin (turning to her) - Thank You for everything….he planted a quick kiss on her cheeks and walks towards the bedroom with a big smile.

Purvi's eyes wide open at his sudden gesture….she touched her cheeks and looked towards the close room door…her cheeks turned red and a broad smile appeared on her face, realizing what just happened.

Kavin comes out of the room in Santa's get up….a red suit with white fur trim. Big white mustache and beard with a big fat tummy, santa hat on the head, holding a big red gift bag in one hand and a bell in his other hand.

Purvi started whistling seeing him and walked to him.

Purvi (impressed) - kya baat hai! tum to iss get up mai asli santa se bhi jyada asli lag rahe ho.

Kavin (shyly) - thank you!

Purvi - mera kaam khatam hua, ab aage tum sambhal lena…mai jaati hu, agar Mishti ne hum dono ko saath dekh liya to fir se upset ho jaaegi.

Kavin nodded his head, she smiled and was about to walk out of the house when she heard Mishti's voice from outside. she immediately ran inside Kavin's room and hided behind the door as she didn't want to upset Mishti more.

Mishti opens the door and was surprised to see the Santa standing right in front of her. her mouth opens in shock and she started staring at him, trying to figure out if he is real or not.

Kavin (high pitch) - Merry Christmas My Child!

Mishti moved close to him and touched his hand in order to be sure that she is not dreaming. meanwhile, all the kids of their building come there and get excited seeing Santa. Purvi was watching all of them hiding behind the door.

Kavin started playing with all the kids and distributed the gifts to them. suddenly he felt someone pulling his hand, he looked down and saw Mishti.

Kavin (looking at her) - what happened my child?

Mishti (innocently) - aap sach mai Santa ho?

Kavin nodded his head in yes with a big smile.

Mishti (excited) - aap meri har wish puri karoge?

Kavin - Bilkul. tell me! kya wish hai aapki?

Mishti indicated him to bent down with her hand…he smiled and sat in front of her…she moved her lips close to his ears.

Mishti (in slow voice) - mujhe meri mumma chahiye….Kavin's face fell hearing this….aap bhagwanji ko boliye na ki vo meri mumma ko mere paas bhej de! Please santa! Please…she joined her hands with an upset face

Kavin's eyes filled with tears hearing her innocent wish…he felt really helpless and got emotional…he pulled her into a hug.

Mishti - aap meri ye wish puri karoge na Santa?

Kavin tightens his grip on her, tears started rolling down his cheeks.

Mishti (sobbing) - Mumma chali gai, lekin aap please Bunny ko bolna ki vo mujhe kabhi chodkar naa jaaye…mai apne Bunny ko kisi ke saath share nahi karungi! I love him.

Some Days Later

Kavin and Purvi were maintaining distance from each other and now she has stopped visiting Kavin's house and the contact between them was also minimum because of lack of time. They both used to miss each other but were trying hard to control their emotions for Mishti's happiness.

Kavin was locking his flat while Mishti was standing near him, ready in her school dress.

Kavin (turning to her) - chale?

Mishti (happily) - chalo.

She holds his finger and started walking with him, meanwhile Purvi also comes out of her flat to go to the school. Kavin and Purvi saw each other and smiled. Mishti tighten her grip on his hand and he understood that she is still not comfortable.

Kavin (picking her up) - jaldi chalte hai, varna late ho jaayenge.

Mishti gets very happy and kissed on his cheeks….Kavin started walking outside and looked at Purvi, she smiled at him in assurance.

At School

Mishti was standing at her classroom door, looking outside, waiting for Kavin.

Purvi (entering inside) - kiska wait kar rahe ho aap Mishti?

Mishti (without looking at her) - Bunny ka!

Purvi saw all the children were ready along with their parents for the clay craft competition and Mishti was feeling sidelined because Kavin has not yet arrived. Purvi went in a corner and called him. He told her that he is stuck in the work and will not be able to come.

Purvi took a glance at Mishti, she was looking very upset. an idea popped in her mind, she talked with the teacher and took the permission from her to participate in the game with Mishti. she resisted at first, but she really wanted to take part in the competition and having no other choice, she agreed.

Purvi (excited) - ye dekho Mishtu! maine kya banaya.

Mishti took a glance at her and saw a beautiful clay doll in her hand. she gets excited seeing the doll but soon gets upset remembering her closeness with her father. Purvi gave her a weak smile and started decorating the doll with colors.

They both win the competition. Mishti gets very happy and jumps in excitement. they both shared a high five and out of excitement, Mishti pulled her hand and hugged her happily, kissing on her cheeks. Purvi's eyes filled with happy tears, she touched her cheeks and looked at Mishti, she was standing holding the doll in her hand with a big smile.

In Night

Kavin was out for the grocery shopping, he was going out of the store when he spotted Purvi. they started talking, he offered her to drop her at home and she happily agreed.

They both sat inside the car and he drove towards their building…Purvi wanted to confess her feelings to him for a long time but was waiting for the right time. the right time may never come, she has to tell him before it gets too late and decided to tell him right here, right now.

Purvi (hesitantly) - Kavin! mujhe tumhe kuch batana hai….mujhe pata hai, naa to ye jagah sahi hai aur naa hi vaqt lekin ab mai aur intzaar nahi kar sakti.

Kavin knew what she is upto….he didn't want her to confess anything, because he may not be able to reciprocate or give the commitment to her…he knew his daughter will never accept her and he can't go against his daughter's wish...he pressed the breaks and the car stopped with a jerk on an isolated road.

Purvi (nervously) - Kavin! I….I….she closed her eyes and took a deep breath….Kavin! I...I…Love….

Kavin (trying to control emotions) - please Purvi! Please aage kuch mat bolna…..mujhe….mujhe darr hai ki kahi mai 'naa' na bol du.

Purvi (shocked,hurt) - kyu? koi kami hai mujhme? kya tum kisi aur se…..

Kavin (cutting in between) - aisi koi baat nahi hai…he looks at her….tum bahut achi ho Purvi! you are just….just perfect….tum jaanti ho, tumhare aane se pehle mai sirf Mishti ka papa tha, Kavin to kahi kho hi gaya tha, lekin tumne uss Kavin ko dhund nikaala….he smiles with moist eyes…you make me feel happy, you make me feel wanted….tum jab saath hoti ho to sab kuch sahi lagne lagta hai….she was just listening to him, looking down….Manvi (his wife) ke baad pehli baar mai kisi ke liye ye sab feel kar raha hu.

her eyes filled with tears, she knew where this was going.

Kavin (trying to be strong) - mere liye Mishti ki khusi se badhkar aur kuch nahi hai….Mishti sirf meri beti nahi hai, meri jaan basti hai ussme….agar vo hi khush nahi rahegi to mai kaise khush reh sakta hu?…he looks at her…mera har ek decision Mishti ki life ko effect karega aur mai nahi chahta ki meri beti ko meri vajah se jara si bhi taklif pahuche…tum samajh rahi ho na?….she just nodded her head, still looking down, struggling to hold back her tears….Mishti meri priority hai aur humesha rahegi.

Purvi (looking down) - jaanti hu.

Kavin (sighed) - you deserve someone better.

Purvi (without looking at him) - I don't want any better.

Kavin (trying to find words) - kaash….kaash hum pehle mile hote.

Purvi (teary) - Kaash hum mile hi naa hote.

Kavin felt a pinch in his heart hearing her statement but he knew how hurt she was at the moment.

Kavin (guilty, teary) - I….I am….I am sorry!

Purvi didn't reply anything and looked outside the window….Kavin wiped his tears and started driving the car.

Purvi was looking outside the window, crying silently…all the memories of Kavin started flashing in front of her eyes….she felt as if there was a hole in her chest and an invisible hand was wringing her heart and ripping her lungs to shred...she was feeling awful, shattered and totally heartbroken.

Love doesn't hurt. It is the attachment that hurts. It is the expectations that hurts. It is the imagined future that is now broken that hurts. after she met Kavin, she had always pictured herself with Kavin and Mishti. she had always dreamed of becoming a part of their small world. a dream of a happy family with both of them was now shattered and was hurting her badly.

The car stopped in front of their building and Purvi comes out of her world. she immediately steps out of the car and walks from there without even taking a glance back to him.

Kavin kept looking at her, it was not easy for him too, but for him, Mishti's happiness matters more than his own. He felt as if his whole world was crumbling down, his happiness has been depleted. as if he has lost an important part of himself. He was trying hard to hold back his tears but couldn't. He banged his hand on the steering wheel in frustration.

A/N - this was the longest chapter in this story, hope it was not boring! Keep reading and please do review :')